£3.75 an hour for 14 year old?

[republicofjam]

My daughter and her friend were offered places as Junior Coaches/Helpers at their Gymnastics Club for 'pocket money' They have been working for just under 2 hours a week since September without receiving anything but apparently will start receiving £3.75 an hour from February. Am I unreasonable to think that this is a bit mean or is this standard?

I worked at a riding stable in my teens, we got paid nothing - perhaps a free 10 - minute ride at the end of the day if the horses weren't too tired

Having said that I think they should get more

Frankly, it depends how much responsibility she's actually given.

I've seen various children's activities where there are older teenagers being regular helpers, and for some of them, you might as well pay them to attend a youth club. Other times, the teens are actually assisting the instructor.

My daughter and a couple of her friends helped out for free at dance at this age.

I thought it was a bit mean not to pay her at all, but she got a lot out of it too. Great for building people skills and confidence, which all helps with getting a job later on.

The question for your daughter is, is it worth doing it anyway for the experience? If so I would just think of the money as a bonus.

There is no minimum wage for her age, nor is there an entitlement to paid holiday. It's one of those things unfortunately, she can either do the work for their offered wage or say no.

This is my thinking.

Everything my dc have been involved with (both when they were young children themselves and also, later, as teens when they were in the coaching / leading role, has been done on a voluntary capacity.

That's the teens from the swim club that got in the water with the little ones' lessons......football coaching (over different clubs) .......rugby tots ...... Scouts (most sections have Young Leaders) ......youth club . None of them get paid.

It is about experience and gaining skills and things to put on their CVs or to count to DofE etc. I find it strange they are getting paid.

All that said, if they were offered some money to do something, and they have been doing what they were asked, then they should have received the money they were offered.

If it’s something she enjoys and potentially good experience for cv I think I’d view as pocket money and a little bonus.
We have that age group helping with rainbows and brownies and it’s purely volunteer no money but they do it as like it and counts towards d of e/ good experience for cv.

The coach may also be a good reference for a proper paid job at 16. Mine easily got a pt job after gcses as she had some volunteer experience and a reference from activity leader.

The best you can do is look at it more as work experience that can used to get a decent paid job once they're 16 and beyond

It's a bit of a piss take wage though they could at least round it up to £5 which is still pretty shit

My DD 16 gets £9 an hour which will increase when she's 18 to £11 ish

Some teens help with brownies or at a sports club for fun/DoE service element/experience to put on their UCAS form/CV (or even just to give a bit back after benefiting themselves when younger), and don't get paid at all.
If that's the rate of pay, they have to decide whether they think it's worth it or not. It's worth asking questions about the future: will they get more when they have more experience? And when they turn 16, will they get minimum wage or be told that they're being replaced by the next round of 14/15 year olds?

OP - would you rather your 14yo was earning money and gaining experience or not?

It's not exploitation, it's a simple matter of pricing. Most under 16s don't need much money and can afford to work for small wages, which suddenly makes them a viable option.

Please bear in mind that if the business had to pay more (such as equal to 16yo or whatever), then they have ZERO reason to hire such young people to do these starter jobs.

Incidentally, this is why I'm against the minimum wage 😬

DS1 gets £15 a week for his paper round, so £3 per day, it takes him about 45 minutes in the morning before school. He’s 15.
My first job was at a vets and I got £2 an hour in 1995.

It’s very low but if she’s happy to do it, let her.

However, what’s their reason for not paying for for the 6 months she’s already done? I’d be asking for the pay that she’s already earned.

I believe the business will need a child employment permit if they are going to pay them, you’ll need to check with your council.
https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/local-council-rules-for-child-employment-permits

Just about to say the business will need a permit for the kids, check the insurance too as lots aren't covered till they are 16 which is why so many find it difficult to get jobs before then now. The permit should list the permitted hours which wont be many at this age.

Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment.Whilst I was initially a bit shocked at the rate of pay for what appears to be a profitable business (if she were helping out at, for example Brownies I would class that as volunteering) I'm not sure I have gone to the trouble of querying it had they not already done several months without any payment. However both my daughter and her friend enjoy helping with the younger children and I agree with the posters that mention it being good experience and something to put on a CV for later.

Not sure how you got that from my post but ok.

Is and it isn’t. I was given a lot of responsibility in that job, including opening the shop on my own and being left for a few hours at a time. I was definitely giving 20x the value that I was being paid so in that respect it was very low. It was a wonderful time and I still attribute my somewhat successful work life so far, to working in that shop and as a result I am paid very well now. When I went to look for a ‘real’ job, the experience helped so much.

i think they are being really mean. I would have said £5 per hour would have been been ok.

Is it a business though? Any gym club I’ve ever been involved with has been not for profit. Qualified coaches would get an hourly rate but young assistant coaches, the safeguarding officer, some admin roles, chaperones for events, board members etc would all be volunteers.

It is good experience though, and will look good on CVs later for better paid jobs.

You were underpaid. My first Saturday job in 1985 (supermarket) I was paid £1.22/hour. There was no minimum wage then.

I think my £1.22 an hour almost 40 years ago suggests that £3.75 now is a bit of a piss take

But you were 16. The NMW for a 16 year old is now £5.28.
OP there is no NMW for under 16s.

I think it sounds ok, if she wants to do it then thats the offer. If you dont like the offer then dont do it

Jobs at that age are more than just about the money. I wouldnt tolerate her working for free but she'll have work, peer and life experience which she can put to a proper saturday job when shes around 15/16.

I strongly believe in kids having saturday jobs from that age, its really important.

Definitely a business.

Why haven't they been paid for the first 6 months?